Man the barricades, take to the streets, load your shotguns. Macron has had the temerity to propose that the French retirement age should rise from 62 to 64. In the UK the age is 66, or if you were born after April 1968; 68.
Here (below) is a short video of the French venting their feelings.
The last time I saw protests of this magnitude was when Macron tried to make both youth employment, and dismissal, easier for an employer; which at the moment is a nightmare. The unemployed from the Banlieues didn't like it one bit, and rioted. Macron soon changed his mind, and most of those unemployed remain happily unemployed to this day on their €800 a month.
It was claimed that over a Million marched against the new proposed age of retirement, I suspect the age will stay at 62.
I don't know if it's still the same but women's age of retirement in France used to be reduced by one year for every child they'd had. I can't see that happening here.
It's best to leave the French to what they do best. Being French.
ReplyDeleteYou may like to know that Germany's then chancellor, Otto von Bismarck (think pickled herring - ask your Swedish wife), set the first official retirement age (1881) at seventy (yes, 70!) which was rather clever because in those days most people were dead by then. Britain followed suit in the early 19hundreds. Yes, 70. Well, you can read it all on Wiki, where else.
Thing is, easily forgotten: We are talking State Pension here. Not private pensions which allow you to take early retirement if you can afford it.
Also worthy of note that, what else is new, no offence to the British (I have lived here most my adult life and carry my battle wounds not with pride or sorrow), the British State Pension is among the lowest in Europe. Yes, really. Flatline.
U
Why are you not taking me to task about something? Are you becoming soft?
DeleteAs it happens my late Mother-in-Law worked for one of the Von Bismarks. He had a castle in Sweden. When he moved to Paris during the last war, she refused to accompany him.
That is amazing (your MIL being in such rarefied company). I once knew a Bismarck. Don't know which branch of the family. We went to school together, same class. I am pretty certain her name was Annette - I remember her as tall and very thin, distant with a mysterious hint of a smile. Our acquaintance was short lived as my father's career uprooted us every five minutes. The upshot of changing school all the time being that you could transplant me to the moon and I'd be at home and make friends in zero time, even if there is no one but me around.
DeleteU
She was 'governess' to his children. I'm sure he was also called Otto.
DeleteSacré bleu, the peasants are revolting...again!
ReplyDeleteComme d'habitude!
DeleteOne has to hand it to the French - they're always revolting about something!
ReplyDeleteAnd a lot more often than you hear about.
DeleteThe French are simply revolting. What's new?
ReplyDeleteThey don't like change.
DeleteDon't move the goal post when the game is almost over
ReplyDeleteI'm expecting to hear that Macron has removed the goal post.
DeleteLittle wonder the French are shipping their diversity over here. Banlieues is a much better word than social housing though the end result is the same.
ReplyDeleteThe word 'banlieues' also has other connotations that one cannot mention. They rule much of what happens in France.
DeleteAnother idiot
ReplyDeleteThere are plenty around.
DeleteThe work ethic seems very much in decline.. If some can not work and be paid, what is the incentive to work?
ReplyDeleteFor many people, if they had a job they wouldn't have time for their other activities.
DeleteHere in Australia the retirement age is 67, but the government would like you to work until 70 if you wish or are able to. They are even calling for more retired people to fill volunteer jobs.
ReplyDeleteIt seems as if anything is preferable to drawing your pension from the government coffers.
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